Galen University’s majority owners have moved to replace Dr. Louis Zabaneh as president of the institution in an attempt to move the university in a different acadmeic direction.
The institution will expand to become a school of veterinary medicine and Professor Andreas Charalambous from Cyprus is the interim president.
Zabaneh has explained that the decision was a bit of a surprise to him, even though he knew that there were discussions about taking the institution in another direction.
Zabaneh has been the president of the privately-owned tertiary institution since December 2009 and has been a key figure in developing the academic programs at Galen.
Zabaneh, who it was reported is a six-percent shareholder, said to the media this week that the shares have not changed and it is only the management of the institution that has changed.
Reports in other circles are that the reason behind Zabaneh’s departure involves the defaulting on his loan, an allegation that the educator has vehemently denied.